Bassett Furniture

Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. is a furniture manufacturer and retailer, headquartered in Bassett, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1902 by John D. Bassett, Charles C. Bassett, Samuel H. Bassett, and Reed L. Stone. Bassett Furniture is one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in Virginia. The company began when the founders, operating a family sawmill in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, decided to use surplus lumber to produce bedroom furniture. According to oral history, the idea to pivot from raw lumber to finished furniture was proposed by the founders’ wives, Roxanne A. Hundley and Pocahontas Hundley, and it led to the birth of what would become a nationally recognized brand.

Bassett rapidly grew through the early 20th century, becoming a major force in the American furniture industry. By the 1920s, it was shipping products throughout the eastern United States. During World War II, the company contributed to the war effort by manufacturing wooden truck beds for U.S. military vehicles, including the GMC CCKW. Bassett's wartime production significantly expanded its manufacturing capabilities and footprint.

Today, Bassett operates approximately 60 company-owned retail locations in the United States and Puerto Rico and licenses its retail brand to about 40 additional independently operated locations. It manufactures and sells a wide range of home furnishings, including custom upholstery, bedroom and dining room sets, and accent pieces. The company maintains domestic manufacturing operations in Virginia and North Carolina, and its business model emphasizes vertical integration, in-house design, and customization.

Bassett has remained under family influence for much of its history and is currently led by Robert H. Spilman Jr., a descendant of the founding family. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol Nasdaq: BSET and is a component of the Russell 2000 Index.

Bassett has been widely recognized as a symbol of American craftsmanship and resilience in the face of global economic shifts. Like many U.S. furniture manufacturers, the company faced significant challenges in the late 20th and early 21st centuries due to increased competition from low-cost imports and the offshoring of production. In response, Bassett restructured its operations to emphasize domestic manufacturing, customization, and a vertically integrated retail model. The company’s strategic focus on U.S.-based craftsmanship, design, and direct-to-consumer retail has positioned it as one of the few remaining American furniture brands with a significant domestic production footprint.